Skeleton for articulated toys



, Sgpt. 28 1-926.

Filed July 51 fnvenior W Patented Sept. 28, 1926.

a UNITED STATES PATENT orr cs.

ROBERT HUCK, OF NUREMBERG, GERMANY.

SKELETON FOR AR'IIGULA'IED TOYS, ESPECIALLY DOLLS.

Application filed July 31, 1924, Serial No. 729,413, and 'in Germany October 17, 1923.

My invention relates to skeletons for articulated dolls and other articulated toys,

the flexibility and adjustability of which is ensured by ball-joints inserted between their movable parts and combined with braking-members, and provided each with a pressuresleeve, by means of which the respective ball-joints are rendered adjustable and re-adjustable. the known arrangements and combination of parts of the above-mentioned kind, for instance, firstly, as regards dolls, in which each joint-ball is enclosed between and by two hollow semi-spherical seat-forming members or sockets, the movement of these members or sockets and of the ball relatively to one another being braked by supporting springs arranged therebetween; and secondly, as regards artificial limbs in which the hollow semi-spherical ball-seat or socket is devised to form kind of an elastic bandage encompassing the ball at its circumference,-tl1us, in contradistinction to said known arrangements andcombinations of parts the present improvement consists therein that the hollow semi-spherical ballseat or socket which is transformed into an elastic casing consisting of, or forming, elastic fingers or claws, or flat curved springs, holding the ball between them, is

provided with a head-forming end, preferably of cylindrical shape, and with a pressure-cap or an equivalent therefor, that is shoved over said head and can be adjusted and re-adjusted relatively thereto.

This just-mentioned arrangement and coinbination of parts constitutes a simple and cheap articulated joint which is well suited for the requirements of the toy industry, operates reliably, and is regulable as to the extent of the movements of the jointed parts or toy-members relatively to one another.

. The several articulated joints pertaining to a doll or other articulated toy can be con-' In contradistinction to stance of the limbs of a doll, relatively to one another, are greatly increased.

My invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 'l isa front-view of a complete doll-skeleton; Figure 2 is a separate SGqtlOllfll view of the upper half of the left leg of that skeleton (right-hand half of the drawing, as regards Fig. 1), drawn to an enlarged scale; Figure 3 is a separate view of a modified constructional form of the whole left leg of the skeleton; and Figure 4 is a similar representation showing another mod'ification, and the leg provided with members constituting the thigh and the shank of the leg.

Each ball-joint consists of a ball 6 and of spherically curved springs or claws 5, holding the ball between them and forming a kind of socket therefor? The springs or claws 5 form parts of a cap-shaped hollow head, the rim of which is provided with incisions whereby said springs or claws are formed, and over this hollow head or cut cap'is shoved a cap 4, or 4. respectively. The caps 4 are provided at those ball-joints which are located at the body-plate 1 of the skeleton, whereas the caps tare those located at the junction of the limb-parts (upper arm with fore-arm; thigh with shank). The caps 4,4 are adjustable airially whereby the degree of elasticity of the springs or claws (5 can be altered as required for the respective toy or toy-member. The adjusting-means are described hereinafter. The spring-forming caps at the lower ends of the upper arms, the fore-arms, the thighs, and the shanks, are provided each with a rod 8, one end of which is firmly conhow much the rod '8 is screwed into the upper ball 6, as the cap 4 is shoved correspondingly along upon the upper parts of the adjacent springs 5 whereby the lower parts thereof are pressed more or less powerfully against the adjacent ball, the flexibility of the hands relatively to the fore-arms, of

these latter relatively to the upper arms, of the feet relatively to the shanks, and 01' these latter relatively to the thighs, being, of course varied correspondingly.

l designates root-members intended to receive shoes or the like.

Each of the upper spring-caps is pro-' vided with a threaded pin 7 extending through a central hole of the appertaining cap 4; andprovided with a nut bearing on the top sur tace or this cap; owing to this arrangement the cap a may be shoved mor V or less. along upon the adjacent parts of the springs appertaining to the respective ballrjoint whereby the degree of elasticity of these springs can be varied as required,

practically just so as has been described with respect to the springs pertaining to the lower joints.

The connection of the arms and of the legswith the body-plate 1 is effected by cylindrical casings 2 affixed to said plate 1 are provided in suitable position and provided each with a'circmnferentia l hollow collar 3 into which engages, inside the respective casing 2, a circumferential collar 3 or the cap 4 whereby this latter is coupled with the casing in such a manner that it canbe turned therer in, but cannot'be shifted axially.

as substitutes for, the caps 4c. The rods 8 are screwed more or less into the ball at their upper ends whereby the elastic claws are acted on exactly as by the caps described. Preferably a small annulus ll-is arranged on the threaded part of the rod, between the upper end of the thigh- Or shank-forming member and the lowermost surface-part o l the ball 6 above it. That annulus is not screwed upon the threaded rod-part, but sits loosely thereon, and the pressure exerted from above down upon the limb 9 is trans mitted by it; its diameter is, of course, such, at the proper angularmovement of the arm-parts or legparts relatively to each other are not impededfthe diameter of the ring 11 is, in fact, preferably such that the Qringcan enter i'to the interstices between the springs or elastic claws 5. p l. clalmz 1. A. skeleton for articulated toys, es-

.peoially dolls, comprising, in combination:

, 'id members, and ball-joints, connecting said members m'ovably with each other and mo es? comprising each a ball connected rigidly with a rigid member, a crowning sctol clastic claws shaped partly spherically and holding said ball between them, and being connected with the adjacent rigid member of ly dolls, comprising, in combination: rigid members, and balljoints connecting said members movablywith each other and comprising each ball connected rigidly with a rigid member, a crowning set oli elastic claws shaped partly spherically and lioldi 11, said ball between thorn and liorininp with their other parts which ctxcnd oil the ball a hind of cap connected. with the adjacent rigid member of the skeleton; an axially Sllllffitl'lllO member arranged on the latter slicleton-membcr, and adjustable moans *l'or pressing said shiltable membermorc or less onto the cap-part of the combined claws, substantially as described.

3. A skeleton for articulated toys, especial ly dolls, con'iprising, "in combination: rigid members with screw-tlnfcads, and ball-joints connecting, said mcn'ibcrs movably with each other and comprising each a ball connected dly with a i" of elastic claws shaped partly spherically and holdingsaid ball between them and be ing-connected with the adjacent rigid member of the skeleton; an axially shilftoble me; her arranged on the latter skeletonmember, and being adapted to be pressed more or less onto the adjacent partso'l the said claws, substantially as set forth.

.1-. A skeleton for al icnlated toys, espcciah ly dolls, com 'nrising, in combination: rigid members vith sci w-threads, andball-joints connecting said n'icnibers movably with each er and comprising each a bull connected dly with a rigid member, a crowning set claws shaped partly spherically 'd ball between them. and being'co'nnccd ith the :nljacent ri f member oi the skeleton; an axially shiltzxble incn'iber arreejed on the latter skeletonmember, and a not located on said thread and being" adapted to press the sllil'table member more or less onto the adjacent parts ol the said claws, so antially as set 'lorth.

5. A skeleton for a: icnlatcd toys, especially dolls, comprising, in crnnbination: rigid incn'ilio and balhjoints, connecting said members movaliily with each other and beingconnected by them and comprising each a ball connected rigidly with a rigid member, a crowning set of elasti claws shaped partly spherically and holding said ball between them, and being, conneclcd with the adjacent r";id member oi" the skeleton, each of said rigid members connecting the ball of one ball-joint withtlie claw-forming d member, a crowning set member of an adjacent ball-joint; and means to press each claw-forming member more or less towards the appertaining ball, substantially-as described.

6. A skeleton for articulated toys, especially dolls, comprising, in combination: rigid members, and ball-joints connecting said members movably with each other and being connected by them and comprising each a ball connected rigidly with a rigid member, elastic claws shaped partly spherically and holding said ball between them, and being connected with the adjacent rigid member of the skeleton, each of said rigid members connecting the ball of one balljoint with the claw-forming member of an adjacent ball-joint; tubes enclosing the rigid skeleton members located between said joints and extending from the ball of one thereof near to the claw-forming member of the other joint; and a cap-shaped member located between this clawforming member and the adjacent end of said tube and being adapted to be shifted axially by the same, substantially as set forth.

7. A skeleton for articulated toys, especially dolls, comprising, in combination: rigid members, and ball-joints connecting said members movably with each other and being connected by them and comprising each a ball connected rigidly with a rigid member, elastic claws shaped partly spherically and holding said ball between them,

and being connected with the adjacent rigid member of the skeleton, each of said rigid members connecting the ball of one balljoint with the claw-forming member of the adjacent ball-joint; tubular members forming limbs and enclosing the rigid skeleton members located between said joints and extending from the ball of one thereof near to the claw-forming member of the other joint; and being at this end adapted to act on the claws so as to press them more or less against the ball of the appertaining joint, substantially as set forth.

8. A skeleton for articulated toys, especially dolls, comprising, in combination; rigid members, and ball-joints connecting said members movably with each other and being connected by them and comprising a ball connected rigidly with a rigid member, elastic claws shaped partly spherically and holding said ball between them, and being connected with the adjacent rigid member of the skeleton, each of said rigid members connecting the ball of one ball-joint with the claw-forming member of the adjacent ball-joint; tubular members forming limbs and enclosing the rigid skeleton members located between said joints and extending from the ball of one thereof near to the clawforming member of the other joint and having at this end a conical bore adapted to receive the body-parts of the claws; each limb-forming member being adapted to be adjusted longitudinally and to be pressed onto the claw-forming member, substantially as set forth.

9. A skeleton for articulated toys, especially dolls, comprising, in combination: rigid members, and ball-joints connecting said members movably with each other and comprising each a ball connected rigidly with a rigid member, elastic claws shaped partly spherically and holding said ball between them; a threaded pin projecting forth from the body-part of said clawforming member; an axially movable cap shoved upon this member and being adapted to be adjusted relatively to the claws thereof so as to press them more or less against said ball; a stationary casing attached to the body-forming frame-part of the toy and having an inner circumferential groove; an

outer circumferential collar on said cap,

this collar engaging said groove; and means for adjusting the said cap relatively to the claw-forming member, substantially as set forth.

10. A skeleton for articulated toys, especially dolls, comprising, in combination: rigid members, and pairs of ball-joints connecting said members movably with each other, one ball-joint of each pair comprising H a ball connected rigidly with a rigid member, elastic claw shaped partly spherically and holding said ball between them, and being connected with the adjacent rigid member of the skeleton, and means to press said claws more or less against the said ball the other ball-joint of the pair consisting also of a ball, a claw-forming-member, the claws of which hold this ball between them; a threaded pin projecting forth from the body-part of said claw-forming member; an axially movable cap shoved upon this member and being adapted to be adjusted relatively to the claws thereof so as to press them more or less against said ball; a stationary casing attached to the bodyforming frame-part of the toy and having an inner circumferential groove; an outer circumferential collar on said cap, this collar engaging said groove; and means for adjusting the said cap relatively to the clawforming member, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ROBERT HUCK. 

